The Southwest Clean Air Agency in Vancouver issued a stage one burn ban for Clark County starting Saturday at 1 p.m. The ban prohibits the use of fireplaces, uncertified wood stoves and inserts, as well as all outdoor burning.

The ban only applies to uncertified stoves -- typically made before 1990 and which dont' have a certification label on the back. If air quality doesn't improve, the agency could issue a more restrictive stage two ban that includes pellet stoves and certified wood stoves.

People who rely on wood stoves as their sole source of heat are exempt from the ban, which will be lifted when air quality improves.